20 comments so far

Great tool! Todd. I use one of these Milwakees all the time at my workplace. Way nicer than a recip any day! Recips still have their place in hard to reach places, but if there is anyway to use a hand bandsaw, that is what I reach for.

Todd I often have wanted to buy one of those saws. (For the portability) Maybe 40 years ago I bought a Sears metal bandsaw. I have gone through many blades over the years and I’ve made a lot of things out of metal and also fixed lots of kids playground equipment that haven’t stood up to four or more rambunctious kids.

Great review.

-- I've been blessed with a father who liked to tinker in wood, and a wife who lets me tinker in wood. Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

Woodworking band saws and lathes can somtimes be used to cut metals but tooth pitch and rake angles almost allways need to be changed. try for three teeth in contact with each layer of metal being cut and lower rake angles from +5 to -5 degrees. Two or less teeth will result in ripping the teeth off of the band. The lowest speeds available on woodworking machines is almost allways too high for metals (Aluminum can be cut at higher than the normal lows of woodworking machines if continuosly lubricated). Brass,copper, zinc,(non ferrous) and cast iron (mild not chilled) are possible. The addition of a jack shaft in the drive system is highly desirable. Lubrication and cooling are needed for all except cast iron which should be cut without either. Coolants (broad definition ) Primarily cool the cutting teeth and the material being cut with some lubricating properties. Lubricants Primarily reduce friction between the chips ,stock and tooth gullet with some coolant properties. As woodworking machines are not equiped with coolant sumps and guards flood coolant systems are seldom used . A gravity drip or spray mist system, manual brush application,or application from a solid form are more suitable.

Great little saw, the trades men use them a lot in remodeling and demo. I work in a machine shop so I can do the government work in my spare time if I have to. I haven’t tried yet but I was buying jig saw blades today and there was a pack of carbide tooth blades made by Bosch, it would probably do real nice for flat plate metals. Good presentation Todd, well cut and clean!!!!

Your right, they are very handy to have in the remodeling business. I have the Porter Cable, and it has worked well for me for a good number of years.

I also have a Revolution metal cutting chop saw, which uses blades that look like wood cutting blades, but will handle some serious steel. It can also be used on stainless and aluminum with a different blade.

The Portaband is a great tool, and the parts are readily available if you are going to be using it a lot. The newenclosed blade metal cutting skil type saws also work great, I have had one for several years now, and also usethe abrasive cutting discs on my grinder, which involves gloves and a face shield. Thank you for sharing.